One thing I've frequently noticed is a large number of photos that are out of focus. Now I know everyone's not a photographer, and you may not be able to afford to have a professional headshot taken, but by golly, tell whomever is taking your picture to please take their nerve medication first!

Maybe subconsciously the guy is thinking we won't notice the wrinkles and bad teeth if the shot is blurred. I'll bet a few drinks might help it appear sharper; it's worth a shot. (Pardon that pun, too!) But when you go to meet the guy, I guess it would be a good idea to have a couple of belts in you so he will, indeed, look like the same person who's in the photo.

Also, there are times when size is important. (I'm talking about the photo in this particular instancewhat'd ya think I was referring to?) You may want to consider using an image size that's larger than a single brain cell of an ant. It would be to your advantage if viewers could tell what species you belong to. Example: debt settlement what's with the picture of you water skiing behind your friend's boat, splashing water twenty feet into the air, 350 yards offshore? I guess if we never got closer than 350 yards when we meet, we won't have a problem now, will we?

A nice shot from the waist up would be nice, including all the way to the top of your head. Speaking of which, I saw an ad where this guy had posted not one, not two, not three, but four photos of himself with the top of his head cut off. What does this mean? Can I use him as an end table and put a bowl of chips and a drink up there, or is it possible he's just a hair uptight about being bald? Hmmm?

Look, we'll find out sooner or later that you now have the same amount of hair that you were born with, so get real, get a clue, or look up the nearest toupee dealer in your area. Just let it go. Besides, there are a lot of women who find the male balding pattern kind of sexy, except for that combed over flippy thingie going on. Like it or not, this is part of who you are, and I know it is very difficult for guys to deal with, but c'mon, it's much better than some of the other hair options guys use to deny reality.

Another point I would like to make is if you post a photo with your ad; make sure we can see certain key elements, like your face. What's up with photos where the guy's wearing a ball cap and sunglasses standing in the shadows where all we see is his shady silhouette? Why take the time to post a photo when your audience can't even see what you look like? This being the case, why don't you just turn around, bend over and snap a shot of your backside instead, what would be the difference?

As I mentioned earlier, I know we may not be able to afford to have a professional portrait taken, but you still have several options. Instead of using any old snapshot lying around, take a few minutes to click off a new one. This will be everyone's first and possibly last impression of you. If you don't have access to a camera, don't hesitate to ask a good friend if you could borrow their digital camera or cell phone (is technology great or what!) to take a pleasing photo. As an incentive, tell them you will pass down your overflow of dates.

I know some people have extremely busy schedules, and others are just too damn lazy to have a new picture taken, but posting your driver's license photo on a matchmaker Web site to attract your next potential spouse! Crime-a-netly, who do you plan on attracting, one of the slow moving clerks at the Department of Motor Vehicles? Why don't you just post your mug shot from your last arrest instead, it would be just as impressive.